A photo of the flagpole before it was restored. (via New Orleans Veterans of Foreign Wars)
The New Orleans post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 11, to celebrate the restoration of a World War II-era flagpole and memorial at the corner of Laurel and Leontine streets.
The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday at the monument, near 5335 Laurel Street, and will include representatives from the VFW, the New Orleans Lawn Country Club and other local veterans and supporters.
“In 1943, Uptown residents wanted to mark their neighborhood’s participation in the war effort with a plaque, pole and flag that would forever wave high,” the VFW wrote, announcing the event. “In recent decades, the flag has since come down and the once glorious monument has faded and rusted.
“Through generous support of local veterans and donors, the monument has been restored and will be celebrated in a flag-raising ceremony held on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. During the event, members of the local military, Jesuit JROTC, and business and community leaders will honor WWII veterans and others who have fought overseas, concluding with the raising of the American flag, which was donated to the New Orleans VFW by former Sen. Mary Landrieu after flying over the U.S. Capitol Building.”
Meanwhile, the VFW recently raised $43,000 for its own ongoing effort to renovate its hall at 531 Lyons Street, the group announced. The VFW will use the former corner store for its activities including assisting veterans with VA claims and housing issues, maintaining veterans’ graves and serving as a meeting place for official activities.
Local contractor Design Management Group is slated to begin construction on the new hall this month.
A rendering of the proposed renovations to the VFW hall. (courtesy of the New Orleans VFW)
The Army was segregated during WWII. Imagine you were a white man pretending you were a black man and you had a black child and you were driving down the street and you passed this monument. How would you explain it? This racist monument celebrates oppression and segregation and has to come down.